Joe Public blog + Fostering | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic+fostering
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:36:16 GMT2015-08-02T20:36:16Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
We need to invest in adoptionhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/sep/30/adoption-system-investment
Making the adoption journey better for all concerned should be a priority, says Anthony Watt<p>The sheer weight of bureaucracy in the childcare system – which means adoption can be a stressful, unpleasant, and too often 'last resort' option – has led to the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/29/60-babies-adopted-england-last-year" title="">adoption figures released this week</a>.</p><p>Only a small percentage of the 65,520 children in care were adopted last year, according to the statistics. For the 3,050 who were successfully adopted, it is important to appreciate that adoption doesn't stop when children are placed with a family.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/sep/30/adoption-system-investment">Continue reading...</a>AdoptionChildrenSocietyFosteringFri, 30 Sep 2011 10:54:24 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/sep/30/adoption-system-investmentAlamyEvery individual adoption saves local authorities between thirty to fifty thousand pounds per child adopted. Photograph: AlamyAlamyAbout 3,200 children were adopted from care in the UK last year, 71% of whom had suffered severe abuse or neglect in the past. Photograph: AlamyAnthony Watt2011-09-30T10:54:24ZGiving foster carers a stronger voicehttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/jun/10/foster-carers-voice
Fostering services must listen to the views of foster carers to improve life for children in care, says Jamie Roome of the fostering network<p>The care system is under immense pressure with more children coming into care, a chronic shortage of foster carers and the threat of cuts to an already drastically underfunded service.</p><p>Yet, while this pressure mounts the 37,000 strong workforce of foster carers across England are as dedicated and committed as ever to providing some of our most vulnerable children with the best possible care.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/jun/10/foster-carers-voice">Continue reading...</a>FosteringChildrenSocial careSocietyFri, 10 Jun 2011 11:27:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/jun/10/foster-carers-voiceDavid Levene/GuardianFoster carers play a vital role in giving children a safe, stable and secure home. Photograph: David Levene/GuardianDavid Levene/GuardianHas the focus on the wider children's agenda, such as this Sure Start centre, drawn resources away from child protection? Photograph: David Levene/GuardianJamie Roome2011-06-10T11:27:45ZSuccessful fostering needs good social work support | Ray Joneshttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/may/18/fostering-needs-good-social-work-support
Foster carers are a scarce resource, but social workers must not fail to supervise them and listen to the children<p>The demand for foster carers has never been greater. Over the past three years there has been a year-on-year increase in the number of looked-after children, with more than 60,000 children in England now in local authority care. This trend started before the terrible death of &quot;Baby Peter&quot; Connelly but has accelerated as social workers and others look over their shoulders at a vengeful media eager to pour vitriol when there is a non-accidental death of a child in the care of their parents.</p><p>In addition, the financial squeeze on local councils means they are seeking to avoid expensive residential care, especially those high-cost placements in private children's homes, which are also often unsuitably distant from a child's family and community. Placements are being reviewed and children are being returned to care within the local authority, with long-term foster care the preferred arrangement.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/may/18/fostering-needs-good-social-work-support">Continue reading...</a>FosteringSocial careLocal governmentSocietyWed, 18 May 2011 06:45:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/may/18/fostering-needs-good-social-work-supportLisa Woollett/Photofusion/AlamyA stable family life, and the attention of caring adults who are consistent, is recognised as better than group care. Photograph: Lisa Woollett/Photofusion/AlamyLisa Woollett/Photofusion/AlamyA stable family life, and the attention of caring adults who are consistent, is recognised as better than group care. Photograph: Lisa Woollett/Photofusion/AlamyRay Jones2011-05-18T06:45:01ZRaina Sheridan: Becoming an adult doesn't mean removing the safety nethttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/27/fostering-young-adults
Forcing children out of care when they reach 18 undoes the good work of foster families, says Raina Sheridan<p>It is a well-documented fact that young adults who have left the care system struggle to reach the same levels of educational attainment as their peers. In England only 13% gained five GCSEs grades A*-C in 2007, compared with 62% of the whole population, while less than 5% go on to university.</p><p>These young adults are over-represented in prison populations, and are more likely to be unemployed, single parents, mental health service users and homeless than those who grew up within their own families. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/27/fostering-young-adults">Continue reading...</a>Young peopleSocial exclusionSocietyFosteringMon, 27 Oct 2008 09:30:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/27/fostering-young-adultsGuardianRaina Sheridan2008-10-27T09:30:01ZFostering better care for vulnerable childrenhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/08/fostering.children.child.protection.social.care.careers
The new children's bill offers an important opportunity to ensure foster carers are subject to the same controls as other care workers, writes Robert Tapsfield<p>We send our <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/children">children</a> to school safe in the knowledge their teachers are registered with the General Teaching Council and must comply with standards set by the body. If they do not, they can be struck off. The same goes for childminders, nursery nurses and social workers. But not foster carers.<br /> <br />The General Social Care Council (GSCC), which registers <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/socialcare">social care</a> professionals, is about to start registering domiciliary care workers because they &quot;work mostly unsupervised and have a high level of contact with service users in their own homes&quot;. These issues are just as pertinent when it comes to fostering. Foster carers, however, are not on the list of groups to be registered.<br /> <br />According to the GSCC's website, registration of domiciliary care workers will prevent &quot;unsuitable people being retained in the workforce&quot;. It will also help to raise standards of care by promoting ongoing training and learning, and &quot;enforcing accountability and compliance with the <a href="http://www.topssengland.net/files/cd/England/ScwCodes.htm">code of practice for social care workers</a>&quot;. If these are the criteria for registering with the council, it is a great oversight not to extend this requirement to foster carers. Not only would it improve <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/childprotection">safeguards for children</a>, by holding a central record of any concerns about foster carers' practice, but it would also give foster carers the status and recognition their role deserves.</p><p>Foster carers today face increased demands and responsibilities in their work with some of society's most vulnerable children. 21st century fostering means adding a professional approach to the task of caring for or parenting a child or young person. Foster carers are expected to provide a high-quality service, attend training and reflect on their practice. But too often they do not get the recognition from colleagues they deserve.<br /> <br />Moreover, if a foster carer wants to change fostering service, they have to go through the whole approval process again. Registration would mean foster carers would not have to be reapproved when they move. The process can take up to a year which puts people off reapplying. This means we are losing some excellent and much needed foster carers. Conversely, a foster carer who has come to the notice of authorities because of worries about their practice can move areas, be approved, and carry on fostering with no one at their new fostering service knowing of these past concerns.<br /> <br />Today is the government's chance to give foster carers this status and recognition by introducing a central register held by the GSCC, as the children and young persons bill reaches its report stage in the House of Commons. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/08/fostering.children.child.protection.social.care.careers">Continue reading...</a>ChildrenChild protectionSocial careSocietyFosteringTue, 07 Oct 2008 23:05:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/oct/08/fostering.children.child.protection.social.care.careersStephen Simpson/GettyFoster carers today face increased demands in their work with children, Tapsfield says. Photograph: Stephen Simpson/Getty ImagesStephen Simpson/GettyFour children drawing with chalk on pavement. Photograph: Stephen Simpson/Getty ImagesGuardian Staff2008-10-07T23:05:00ZMen can be good foster parents, toohttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/mar/17/mencanbegoodfosterparents
Prejudice means men are often overlooked as foster careers, but they can be great role models for children, writes Robert Tapsfield<p><img alt="TanyaConstantineGetty.gif" src="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/joepublic/TanyaConstantineGetty.gif" width="440" height="276" /><br /><span class="caption">Father and son reading. Photograph: Tanya Constantine/Getty</span></p><p>When Joe started fostering eight years ago, his social worker would regularly ring up and ask to speak to his wife, despite the fact he could have dealt with the call himself. He was left with a sense that he was less important as a foster carer than his wife, despite the fact that they fostered as a couple. Joe was not alone in feeling that way. Male foster carers frequently report being overlooked in discussions and decision-making about a child in favour of their female partners.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/mar/17/mencanbegoodfosterparents">Continue reading...</a>ChildrenSocietyFosteringMon, 17 Mar 2008 10:37:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2008/mar/17/mencanbegoodfosterparentsRobert Tapsfield2008-03-17T10:37:00Z